Self feeding screw-driver



Dec. 20, 1955 T. D. CROWLEY 2,727,546 SELF FEEDING SCREW-DRIVER Filed Aug. 12, 1953 I N VE N TOR. HeadamD. Growl ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 2,727,546 Patented Dec. 20, 1955 SELF FEEDING SCREW-DRIVER Theodore D. Crowley, Newark, N. J. Application August 12, 1953, Serial No. 373,834

1 Claim. (Cl. 14550) This invention relates to tools of the type having a magazine for feeding objects to be actuated thereby, and in particular a screwdriver having a tubular magazine for holding screws having screwdriver slots in heads thereof and a handle slidably mounted in the magazine and adapted to rotate the magazine to turn screws retained therein.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for holding screws with a screwdriver to facilitate inserting the screws through openings and into material where it is inconvenient to hold a screw with one hand and turn a screwdriver having a bit in the slot of the head of the screw with the other and also to provide means whereby one screw after another may be inserted in a device such as a door or piano hinge without picking up and holding a screw after each operation.

In numerous instances it is desirable to insert a plurality of screws in a comparatively inaccessible location and particularly where it is difficult to hold a screw with the thumb and forefinger of one hand as the screw is started with a hammer or screwdriver in the other and in other instances it is necessary to drive a screw into the material and then reach for another screw to be placed in an opening spaced from the former screw.

With these thoughts in mind this invention contemplates a screwdriver having a circular handle with a telescoping magazine section extended from the handle and with means for retaining and turning screws positioned in said magazine section.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for retaining a plurality of screws in the handle of a screwdriver whereby one screw after another may be inserted in material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a magazine screwdriver handle in which conventional screws may be retained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a screwdriver having a magazine section in the handle thereof in which the screwdriver is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a tubular handle having oppositely disposed longitudinally positioned grooves in the outer surface and friction gripping tongues therein, a sleeve having screw retaining spring fingers in one end and oppositely positioned longitudinally disposed keys on the inner surface mounted with the keys positioned to register with the slots or grooves of the handle and also with screwdriver slots in the heads of screws positioned therein.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved magazine type screwdriver with parts of a lower corner of the magazine section of the handle broken away to show the head of a screw therein.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the telescoping magazine type screwdriver, the head of the screwdriver and screws positioned in the magazine section being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the screwdriver taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view toward the lower end of the screwdriver.

looking upwardly Figure 5 is a detail showing the upper portion or handle of the screwdriver, the handle being shown in perspective.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the telescoping tube or magazine of the screwdriver also with the parts shown in perspective.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view showing the lower end of the screw carrying magazine section of the screwdriver with a screw retaining spring clip shown in dotted lines, and with the upper part of the screwdriver broken away.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7 showing one of the screw retaining spring clips of the magazine section of the screwdriver.

Figure 9 is a detail showing a vertical section through the lower end of the handle taken on line 99 of Figure 5, showing friction gripping tongues extended from the outer surface thereof for retaining the sleeve on the handle.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved self feeding screw driver of this invention includes a tubular handle 10 having a head 11 in the upper end, a telescoping sleeve or magazine 12 having oppositely disposed longitudinally positioned keys 13 and 14 positioned to register with grooves 15 and 16 in the handle 10 and spring clips 17 and 18 positioned in extended edges of the keys and adapted to retain a screw in a starting position in the end of the handle with the threaded portion of the screw extended, as shown in Fig. l.

The lower part of the handle 10 is provided with oppositely disposed slots 22 and 23 in which spring tongues 24 and 25, respectively, are positioned. The tongues extend from the outer surface of the handle and provide friction gripping elements for retaining the sleeve on the handle.

The keys or ribs 13 and 14 are positioned to extend through ends of a screwdriver slot 19 in the head 20 of a screw 21 and with the screws positioned, as shown in Fig. l a screw may be started by rotating the handle which, in turn, rotates the telescoping section or sleeve 12 with the keys 13 and 14 turning the screw.

After one screw is inserted the handle is pressed downwardly until another screw is ejected to the position shown in Fig. 1 and this and each succeeding screw may be used in the same manner.

The device may be provided-in different sizes to correspond with screws for different uses and the length of the tube 12 or magazine may be extended to accommodate as many screws as may be desired.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a magazine type screwdriver, the combination which comprises a tubular handle having oppositely disposed longitudinally positioned slots in the peripherial surface, a tubular magazine slidably mounted on said handle, keys in the magazine positioned to coact with the grooves of the handle whereby the magazine is turned with the handle, said keys of the magazine positioned to extend into ends of screwdriver slots in heads of screws positioned in the magazine, and spring clips in the extended end of the magazine for retaining screws therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

